Ammonia-vaporizer.



No. 816,743. PATENTED APR. 3, 1906.

- J. ROBSON.

AMMONIA VAPORIZBR.

APPLICATION FILED APB.24, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

\1 k WZ-fzesses Inma/if N0.-816,743. PATENTED APR. 3, 1906. J. ROBSON. AMMONIA VAPORIZER.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTBD APR. 3, 1906.

J. ROBSON.

AMMONIA VAPORIZER.

APPLIGATION FILED APB.24, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Wzesfes `UNTTED sTATEs JOHN ROBSON, OF XVALLSEND, ENGLAND.

AMMONIA-VAPORIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatented April 3, 1906.

Application filed April 24, 1905. Serial No. 257,126.

To all whom t mfr/ U non/cern:

Be it known that I, JOHN RoBsoN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Vallsend, county of Northumberland, England, have invented an Ammonia Vaporizer and Absorber, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for vaporizing ammonia and reabsorbing ammoniacal gas and other gases that are soluble in water, such gases being used for driving motors suitably constructed for elastic iiuids.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation; and Figs. 2, 8, and 4 cross-sections of Fig. 1 on the lines X X, Y Y, Z Z, respectively, illustrating a boiler suitable for use in this invention. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic plan of the whole apparatus.

The apparatus consists of, for instance, three single or three sets of boilers A, constructed with a 'fire-box, tubes, perforated plates, and bafiie-plates suitably arranged to eifectually vaporize the ammonia in so ution with water and also to condense the ammoniacal gas after passing from the motor and absorb it in the water contained in the boiler. `When three single boilers are used, the ammonia is vaporized in the first, and the vapor is conveyed thence to the motor. The exhaust-gas from the motor passes into the second boiler containing cold water, where it is condensed and again absorbed in the water. The water in the third boiler is meanwhile being cooled. When the gas has thusbeen vaporized and used from the first boiler and absorbed in the second, the gas in the second boiler is next vaporized and the vapor conveyed to the motor and the exhaust-gas from the motor passes into the third boiler to be condensed and absorbed. The water in the first boiler is meanwhile being cooled to make it ready to receive the exhaust-gas from the motor for absorption into the water again, when vaporization takes place in the third boiler. The heating-surface of each boiler when vaporizing becomes in this way the cooling-surface when absorbing. As long as the apparatus is being worked this cycle is repeated. Therefore, during the operation of the apparatus one boiler is vaporizing, one' boiler is absorbing, and one is cooling, the ammonia thus being repeatedly used. After all the ammonia in one boiler has been vaporized the boiler is cut off by a suitable arrangement of valves, as hereinafter described with reference to Fig. 5, and the next boiler is turned on, the burner or 'lire in the latter having been lighted just before the changing and the fire in the first boiler is extinguished or withdrawn. The heat for vaporizing may be supplied either by an oil-burner, gas fire, or coal or coke-fire, and is so arranged that it can be easily ignited or extinguished and inserted or withdrawn from the fire-box.

Any suitably-constructed boiler may be used g but preferably I use a boiler of vertical type, such as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. In the boiler A, having a bottom plate B and supporting stand or base C, a perforated plate D is fitted in the water-space a certain distance from the bottom between the boilershell and the fire-box E. The exhaust from the engine enters the space between the perforated plate and the bottom by two or more pipes F, with nozzles pointing in the same cir* cumferential direction and causes the water in this space to circulate. The gas not absorbed by the water below the plate D passes up through the holes therein and meets, for

instance, two horizontal bafiie-plates G H on its way to the top of the boiler. The baffleplates are connected to the boiler-shell by knee-pieces or angle-irons J. The said baflieplates change the course of the gas and keep itin contact with the water until the whole is absorbed in the latter. A cross-tube K, slightly inclined, is fitted between the walls of the upper part of the fire-box E and above the level of the perforated plate D, and a large central tube Q between the crown of the fire-box and the top plate L of the boiler acts as a stay, this central vertical tube being surrounded by several other vertical tubes R of smaller diameter between the crown of the fire-box and the top of the boiler. M is the delivery-pipe from the boiler to the motor. A smoke-box N, into which the vertical tubes Q and R open, is fitted on the top of the boiler, and an uptake P is fitted on the top of said smoke-box. A fan (not shown) driven by the motor may be arranged to drive cold air through the tubes Q R and fire-box after the re or burner has been removed from the Erebox to cool the water in the boiler. In some cases, if preferred, cold water may be used instead of cold air for cooling. S is an additional coil, which may also be provided for cooling the water. T is the inlet-pipe thereto, and U the discharge-pipe, which leads into the water-space of the boiler at U. V is a stop-cock in pipe U.

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of the anhydrous-ammonia process.

Fig. 5 illustrates a method of connecting three boilers A with a motor 2. The pipes F of each boiler have in each of them an antireturn-valve 10 and a stop-cock 9 and communicate at F2 with a pipe F, leading -from a condenser 3, connected by pipe F4 With the exhaust of the motor 2. 5 5 are pipes for supply and outlet of cooling water to the condenser 3. The three vapor-supply pipes M from the three boilers have in each of them a stop-valve 11 and communicate at M with a pipe M2, leading to the motor 2. 12 is a stopcock in pipe M2. The three pipes T lead to the condenser 4 and are each provided with a stop-cock 14. A further pipe 7 leads from the connection M to the condenser 4 and has in it a stop-cock 8. 13 13 13 show sludge valves or pipes F. The exhaust ammonia-gas Jfrom the motor 2 is preferably passed through the condenser 3 and cooled before entering the boiler, which is acting as absorber. The similar condenser 4 can be used to liquefy some of the ammonia-gas under pressure `from the boiler, and the anhydrous ammonia so produced may pass by the pipe T to the bottom of the coil S. The anhydrous ammonia on entering the coil will be evaporated by absorbing heat 'from the water contained in the boiler and which surrounds the coil. The ammonia-gas arising from this evaporation will pass out from the top of the coil and may be used for power; but it must ultimately be passed into the boiler with the exhaust `from the engine. More than one coil may be tted in the boiler and cold water can be circulated through it or them to cool the boiler instead The plant is used. 'for motive power, or it may be used 'for refrigerating purposes, or Jfor the two combined.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. Apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising in combination three boilers, means in each boiler for vaporizing ammonia from its aqueous solution, vapor-delivery pipes from and to each boiler, and means for cooling the aqueous contents of each boiler, in combination with connections comprising stop-valves whereby the communications between said boilers' may be so disposed that while any one of the boilers is vaporizing, another is absorbing, and the third cooling, substantially as described.

2. A boiler for the purpose set forth comprising in combination a vertical shell, lireboX, smoke-box and uptake from the latter, tubes between the smoke-box and lire-box, a horizontal. perforated plate surrounding the 'fire-box, an inlet `for ammonia-gas to the way ter-space below said plate, baille-plates above the {ire-box and a delivery-pipe substantially V as described.

3. A boiler for the purpose set forth comprising in combination a vertical shell, fireboX, smoke-box and uptake from the latter, tubes between the smoke-box and lire-box, a horizontal perforated plate surrounding the lire-box, an inlet for ammonia-gas to the water-space below said plate, baffle-plates above the lire-box a coil for circulation of cooling medium -for cooling the water in said boiler, and a delivery pipe substantially as described.

ln witness whereof l have signed this specication in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN ROBSON.

l/Vitnesses:

PETER JACKSON, GEORGE RoBsoN. 

